Self-alining bearing-box and axle for mine-cars and the like



T. A. PARKER.

SELF ALINING BEARING BOX AND AXLE FOR MINE CARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29 1919.

Patented E91), 3', 1920. g 3 SHEETSSHEET I. Q lllllllm I WI T/VESSES ATTOR/VEYS T. A PARKER. SELF ALINING BEARING BOX AND AXLE FOR MINE CARSAND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I9I9.

Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

V n N M 7? /I, PARKER,

/AWA A TTORNE Y8 WITNESSES T. A. PARKER.

SELF ALINING BEARING BOX AND AXLE FOR MINE CARS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, I919.

Patented Feb. 3,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 E 7. /L/ ARI'YER, 8V

WIT/V58??? A TTOR/VEYS trna'ronna nnsnniu PARKER. or BRAZIL, INDIANA.

SELF-ALINING BEARING-B0 AND AXLE FOR Il-IINE-CARS AND THE LIKE.

1 329 84 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application i'llifi April 29,

To ethic/r0222 it may concern:

lie it known that I, 'lrmronnn A. Pannnn, a citizen or the UnitedStates, and a resi dent of Brazil, in the county of Clay and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Sol-L i Ullearingiloxes and Axles for Mine-Cars and the like, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an lIXlPlOVGHli-lllb in axles and trucks formine, railroad and industrial cars. 1

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an improvedaxle and ruck, incorporating in its assembly bearingboxes of suchconstruction and designthat they will be self-adjusting, whereby theaxles will be kept in alinement at all times i ll. further object is toprovide means whereby the bearing-boxes may be permanently attached tothe Carin a convenient way.

Another object is to provide a construction whereby the distance from.center to center of the hearings will remain constant, and whereby equaldistribution of the loan to the hearings will be attained. r=notherobject is to provide such a construction that the parts may be quicklytaken apart and assembled. I

Vi ith these and other objects in view, which will become apparent asthe descrip tion proceeds, the invention resides in the constructions,combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter. more fullydoscribedand claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings inwhich like charactors of reference indicate like parts throughout theseveral figures of which:

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view 01 the invention.

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 3 represents an end elevational view.

Fig. t represents a view in section taken transversely on the planeindicated by the line -llof Fig. 1.

Fig. represents a longitudinal section taken on the plane indicated byline of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 represents a view in perspective or" one of the channel members.

Fig. '7 represents a view in perspective of one of the separators.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the truck assembly includessin-upper channel member 1, and a lower channel Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

191a. Serial assesses.

member sectional configuration approximating the shape of the letter U,each of the channel members being provided with lateral flanges 3. i Thechannel members are spaced apart at intervals by means or" theseparators 4-. These separators; extend transversely of the J assembly,and are provided with lateral ears- 5, forming shoulders '6, againstwhich the edges of the flanges 3 0f the channel members bear, Openings 7provided in the separators receive the axle '8.- These separators areprovided with drilled sleeve portions 9 for receiving bolts (not shown),for

detachably securing the channel members and separators together. v

Each of the channel members, adjacent is ends, is provided with a socket10 of a concave convex formation, such socketform ing a segment of ahollow sphere.

Positioned between the channel members, one at each end of the assembly,lSjfL pair of bearing-boxes indicated generally at 11. Thesebearing-boxes are oi. general cubical formation, and are provided ontheir upper and lower surfaces with enlargements 01- ball portions 12,which fit intot-he socket 110 of the channel members. a i

The boxes are each bored centrally, from one end, which is the outerend, to a point adjacent the opposed end, as at 13, and in this bore isplaced a lining or bushing 14. The axle projects through the bearingbox, an opening 15 in the closedend of the box, being provided forreceiving the. axle, it being noted that the bore of the box is of agreater. diameter than the diameter of the axle, wherebyvto provide anannular space between the axle and the bushing for receiving rollerbearings 16. Plain bearings may if desired be used in lieu ot'the rollerbearings. I s y V The outer end of the bearing-box is closed by means ofa collar 17 provided with a reduced portion which may be pressed intothe open end of the box. Beyond the collar a pair of friction washers 19are disposed.

The axle is preferably a plain straight axle, andin this connection Imight state that I may use an axle such as disclosed in my Patent No.1289249, as such axle provides an excellent method of oiling the beaninn-boxes.

The boxes, on the opposed sides, are vertically grooved or channelechandinto these channels or grooves fit bolts 20. These bolts 2, identical inshape, and of a cross are provided with collars 21 which bear againstthe top surface of the upper channel, and are threaded at their lowerends for receiving nuts 22, which, may be turned up against the undersurface of the lower channel member, such nuts being retained in placeby means or cotter pins 23 or the like. The channels or grooves cut inthe faces of the bearing-boxes are preferably wider than the diameter ofthe bolts 20, so that movement of the bearing-boxes in axles may beallowed, and at the same time excessive play or movement of the boxeswill be prevented, the edges of the grooves or channels by abuttingagainst the bolts, limiting the movement of the bearing-bexes.

These bolts, together with the bolts which connect the separators andthe channel members, serve as means for securing the axle assembly tothe bottom or sill of the car.

By the construction I have provided, it will be readily understood thatthe bearingboxes by reason of their ball and socket method of supportwill readily adjust themselves in keeping the axles properly alined. Itwill "further appear that the assembly is exceedingly simple, and can beeasily and expeditiously taken down and reassembled. I may utilize anysuitable material in the construction of the assembly, and for reasonsof convenience I have illustrated the use of standard rolled steelsections in making the channel members.

The separators may be made of cast iron if desired, while thebearing-boxes, bushings and other parts are preferably made of steel.

The invention may be used to good advantage in connection with axles ofany mine, railroad or industrial cars and the like.

Although I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, Imay desire to make such changes in the construction, combination 7 andarrangement of parts thereof, as do not the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

I claim s 1. In a truck and axle assembly for mine cars and the like,the combination of a pair of spaced channel members having socketsalining the depart from the spirit of formed adjacent their ends,bearing-boxes disposed between the channel members and having ballportions fitting into the sockets in the channel members, fasteningmeans connecting the channel members and extending through. slots in thebearing-boxes, an axle projecting through bores provided in thebearing-boxes, and bearingssurrounding the axle within thebearing-boxes.

2. A trucx and axle assembly comprising a pair of spaced channelmembers, said channel members, being provided with oppesedsockets,bearingboxes positioned between the channel members and provided withball portions fitting into the sockets, means connecting 1e channelmembers, and extending throw 1 oovcscut in the bearing-boxes forlimiting the movement of the latter, an axle projectin through thebearing-boxes, and bearings surrounding the axle within the bearingbox,substantially as described. A

3. A truck and axle assembly including spaced members provided withopposed sockets, bearing-boxes positioned between the members and havingball portions iitting in the sockets, members passing through the spacedmembers and engaging said boxes for limiting the inovements of thebearing-boxes relatively to the spaced members, an axle projectingthrough the bearingboxes, and an ZLBt-ilTlCtlOll means surrounding theaxle within the bearing-boxes.

4:. A truck and axle assembly including a spaced channels members,bearingdisposed between the channel mem 7 separators disposed betweenthe channel men'ibers, fastening means connecting the channel membersand separators togetiier, said fasten ng means being adapted to securethe assembly to the body of a car.

5. A truck and axle assembly including a pair of spaced members, abearing box movably mounted between the spaced members and provided inits opposite sides with grooves, and members extending between saidspaced members and engaging within said grooves whereby to limit themovement of said boxes.

THATCHER ANSLEM PARKER.

